[meteorite-list] Meteorite Pricing/Values

[Greg Hupe]

Hi Steve, Dean, List,

Sorry, didn't see Dean's post in my "inbox" until after I sent the reply. My 
apologies.

Greg

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Greg Hupe" <gmhupe at tampabay.rr.com>
To: <MeteorHntr at aol.com>
Cc: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 6:37 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorite Pricing/Values


> Hi Steve,
>
> I believe you meant to send your reply to me, "Greg". instead of Dean (see 
> below). No biggie, just want to clear up the error.
>
> Best regards,
> Greg
>
>
> Dear Matteo and List,
>
> I have watched this "pricing" debate go on and on for a long time now. I
> believe there are several price levels for any meteorite. One must 
> consider
> if the meteorite is a whole stone, complete slice, part slice, fragment, a
> fresh piece, weathered piece or has cool characterizes that would dictate
> the "value" someone is willing to pay for a particular specimen. All this
> and whether the piece is large or just a speck. Every meteorite has a base
> "retail" value and fluctuating prices depending on the above mentioned
> attributes.
>
> One two cents, euros...
>
> Wished everyone the best for the holidays,
>
> Greg Hupe
> The Hupe Collection
> NaturesVault (eBay)
> gmhupe at tampabay.rr.com
> IMCA 2185
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <MeteorHntr at aol.com>
> To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 4:09 PM
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorite Pricing/Values
>
>
>> Dean,
>>
>> Great post.  There are so many factors to the value of  any particular
>> specimen as you pointed out.
>>
>> One thing I think  people selling meteorites should do is take a little 
>> more
>> time in justifying the  price they are asking.  This means justifying why 
>> the
>> price might be  particularly low (as you do so well in offering low NWA 
>> prices
>> - yet you also  put the twist in that you feel that soon the prices
>> justifiably will go higher  later).  That is marketing.
>>
>> On the other hand, if someone is asking  a particularly high price for
>> something, that too needs to be explained.   Again, that too is 
>> marketing.
>>
>> Without the explanation offered by the  seller, all to often as a buyer 
>> it is
>> easy for people think you are asking too  much, if not for the simple 
>> purpose
>> of positioning yourself for a higher value  in a trade or so that you can
>> come way down making the person feel like they got  a great bargain.  Or 
>> possibly
>> people might think you are indeed trying to  rip people off by 
>> overpricing
>> your material.
>>
>> And if one is asking what most consider is a normal fair price, justify 
>> that
>> too.
>>
>> Whatever the case, help prospective buyers at least understand where you 
>> are
>> coming from.
>>
>> I remember Mike Farmer seven years ago posting about how hot it was in
>> Portales hunting for PV and how cows were dying and blaoting in the 
>> heat. I am
>> not sure it that was a legitimate justification for a market  price on 
>> PV, but
>> at least we knew where he was coming from.  We knew in  part why he 
>> personally
>> valued a specimen at say $18/g rather than maybe $17/g.
>>
>> I think as buyers (or on the list - as critics) we should  acknowledge
>> legitimate qualities in particular specimens and justify why he or  she 
>> agrees or
>> disagrees with a stated price.  Without such justification,  the critic 
>> looks
>> even more foolish than the seller.  Instead of replying  with a 
>> statement, why
>> not respond with a question as to why they think it is  worth such and 
>> such a
>> price.  Put the responsibility of justifying a price  back on the seller 
>> rather
>> on yourself to justify why it is not worth it.
>>
>> And if a buyer doesn't accurately justify why they don't buy (albeit only 
>> to
>> themselves) then they are likely to miss out on some great bargains 
>> thinking
>> they were making a good decision.
>>
>> Remember, if we all agreed to the value of all meteorites, we dealers 
>> would
>> be out of a job, and this list would be very boring.
>>
>> Steve Arnold
>> Arkansas
>>
>>
>>
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>